Therapy
As a rule, conservative therapy is sufficient for meniscus contusion. Physiotherapy is an important part of it. In the acute phase, however, the above-mentioned immediate measures and protection are also important to facilitate healing.
Once the initial inflammatory reaction has subsided, physiotherapy can then help to strengthen the muscles so that the knee is relieved. This is especially important if the meniscus contusion is not caused by an acute accident but by chronic overloading. Then it is also possible that the meniscus lesion heals in the first place and the pain only disappears when the load on the knee has been muscularly buffered.
Depending on the severity of the pain, its course can be improved by injections into the knee joint. For this purpose, mixtures of cortisone and a local anesthetic are usually injected into the joint space. The cortisone stops the inflammatory reaction here and prevents further damage.
The local anesthetic stops the pain and allows for a better movement therapy. Depending on the symptoms, injections with hyaluronic acid can also be given. As an important component of the body cartilage, this is intended to achieve faster healing and new cartilage formation.
Beyond the physiotherapy, independent exercises should then be carried out and muscle strengthening should be achieved through knee-friendly sports such as light cycling. This is the only way to prevent re-injury in the long term. Only in very rare cases may it be necessary to surgically treat a meniscus contusion.
A relief incision is usually made if the swelling in the affected meniscus is too severe to heal otherwise. As a supplement to the therapy, measures from the field of cryotherapy, i.e. targeted cold applications, as well as current therapy with the help of TENS devices can be used. In order to limit the amount of oral painkillers, active ingredients such as Voltaren can also be used in the form of an ointment bandage.
So what should you do if you fear to have a meniscus contusion? First of all, one should always have the whole thing clarified by a doctor to know which further therapeutic measures are necessary. But also in the time until the temin, or as an immediate measure at home you can already do a lot.
It can help to cool the knee several times a day to reduce swelling. In the course of the cooling the leg should then also be positioned high. Of course, it is also important to take it easy and refrain from further sports, as otherwise the bruise can worsen or even extend to a tear.
Also helpful against the inflammation, as well as against the pain, are freely available painkillers such as Ibuprofen or Diclofenac. These also prevent an inflammation of the entire knee joint due to the contusion. However, these should always be combined with a stomach protector such as Pantozol® or Omeprazol when taken over a longer period of time.
Of course, these initial measures do not replace a visit to the doctor or an adequate therapy. Probably the most important household remedy for meniscus complaints is cooling. It is important not to place the cooling element directly on the skin.
As further measures, the use of active ingredient dressings is recommended. These include ointments, such as Voltaren or other sports ointments, which are intended to inhibit inflammation and thus help in the healing process.These ointment bandages should always be applied thickly and left on the knee for as long as possible. You can also combine the application of ointments very well with cooling or even a TENS therapy.
Also zinc ointment bandages should help with knee problems. From the field of naturopathy, compresses with curd, vinegar or healing earth should help. These substances are said to bring the inflammatory substances virtually out of the joint.
Oils with essential ingredients can also have an anti-inflammatory effect. These include, for example, thyme, rosemary, mountain pine or spruce needle extracts. These should then be applied to the knee several times a day.
To improve the symptoms in the short term, tape bandages from the kinesiotape area can also help. However, these should not simply be applied by yourself. You should also take care not to use tape bandages for a long time to prevent a reduction of the taped muscles.
Otherwise you can increase the damage by external support. A very similar aid measure, which also has the same problems, is the use of knee bandages. These are now often already available in the supermarket.
But even these bandages should only be used for a short period of time, as they can otherwise destabilize the knee joint and thus prevent the actual healing process. In this respect, light strengthening exercises are the better approach in the long term. Soft insoles can be used to cushion heavy impact loads on the knee. For all self-executed measures one should consider that they can only support a real tear and do not replace a proper therapy.
